Joseph Zarr

Pratt just hit a Long Dong. His 2nd in High-A. Yeah baby. T-Rats 1-0 in the bottom of the 6th.

I saw ol' friend C Alex Jackson in the Rays line-up last night. And, I thought to myself: "How many games has Jackson played and how is he doing overall?" Well...it appears some of our translation to MLB concerns have definitely expressed themselves early in a semi-regular PT share: 52 GP 😳 122 AB 16 H / 6 2B / 3 HR / 12 RBI / 15 R 48 K: 9 BB 0.131 BA / 0.456 OPS 'Yikes' might be a word I'd use. He is straddling the edge between a 'Poor'-to-'Awful' K-rate (via Fangraphs rating scale) at a ripe 26.5 % K rate. We always knew this was a high possibility given his big swing tendencies at Triple-A. Hopefully, he can get on a hot streak.

I was wondering when he'd get his first Save Opp given how well he'd been pitching. You love to see it. AND, not going to beat the Dead Horse by pointing out he's doing what many of us here thought he was capable of doing. Oh wait! I guess I poked the bear again. Sigh. Go Justin!

You quit it! 🤭 Playoffs, baby. Playoffs. September 9th-17th. We'll need that young gun to eat his standard 5-6 IP and get the first 3-game stint off on the right foot.

This really hasn't been all that good a week on the Farm. But, today is a different day. Let's end these series on a good note and start this upcoming week fresh.

Anything is possible. Just take one glance to the incredible rise of one RHP Max Lazar - obviously, much different circumstances as he left in Minor League FA. BUT, the point being, all these young guys have talent. The right situation, the right circumstances...etc. I personally have a hard time seeing Yeager selected in Rule 5 but it certainly doesn't mean it won't happen. I think Barnes' circumstances aren't a direct correlation to a Rule 5 unproven situation but I get what you're alluding to here.

Yeah, this is spot on imho. The only absolute locks, by my eyes, are RHP Logan Henderson and RHP Shane Smith. Too much high end stuff in both these young men's toolkits to leave exposed - no brainers. I love me some RHP Chad Patrick - he's just a guy who knows how to pitch and really has a nice legit mix of pitches. Will the Brewers protect him? Maybe. Maybe. He's leading the International League in several important categories and even when he's not on top of his game (like his recent start @ Durham), he still finds ways to settle down and give his squad 5 IP or more. That's valuable. I'm very curious to see how the Brewers handle his status after the season is over. He isn't dominant by any stretch but he absolutely can be and has shown he may be just scratching the surface. I like the movement on his pitches - deceptively active. Yeager was Rule 5 eligible last season and went unprotected. He was also injured the majority of the season, obviously. Even tho he's demonstrated really good form - for the most part; he struggled quite a bit in May and June but has been fantastic for well over a month now - and even tho he plays the part of an 8th and 9th inning guy for Biloxi I don't think he's shown anything he didn't show in his 2023 limited action that would scream they'll protect him. Remember, one of my favorite late season risers in RHP Tobias Myers also went entirely unprotected in 2023. Smith is in the best shape of his young career. His change-up continues to be his best pitch. His slider has improved since first entering the system and can certainly be a strikeout pitch when he's ahead in the count. The heater still sits 92-93 mph. He's been much improved, really, since late last summer. Will the Brewers protect him? Probably not. Obviously, I love me some Isaac Collins - having driven that hype train since late last spring. He's also getting more looks at different positions in 2024. We're seeing him at 3B and CF on the regular of late so obviously they are trying to expand his utility relevance. He's fast. He's got a very good bat and a good eye for the ball. Will they protect him? Probably not. If anything comes back as a reminder every year for me, it's that I tend to overvalue these players quite a bit more than the Rule 5 process would indicate. Most teams just tend to leave the majority of their players exposed to the draft. I don't expect any different this Fall for the Brewers.

Shenton and Seymour have been absolute menaces this series. Lotta beef in thos big boys.

AND, there goes the 'No No'. AND, there goes the Sounds 2-0 lead. Two out double put men on 2nd and 3rd. 2 out 3-run jack makes it 3-2 Bulls. Darn!

It's early in Delmarva, but this is absolutely what we wanted to see from the young RHP Josh Knoth. Fantastic early answer after a really tough stretch.

RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez has hit his stride in August. I am absolutely HERE to witness this run. Whewwwww baby.

The pesky Delmarva Shorebirds (who, despite their record, have really given the Mudcats really competitive games throughout their two series and 9 games overall - that 8-0 shutout had to have felt cathartic for the Birds last night) will look to even up their home series versus our beloved Mudcats. RHP Josh Knoth will look to rediscover his form from earlier this season (Knoth has given up 18 earned runs in just 6 GS the past month and a half - batters are hitting to a 0.385 BAA in two August starts, for example, leading to a 12.91 ERA). I would gather this is the highest number of innings Knoth has ever pitched - perhaps, a 'Freshman' wall. He will have to keep grinding to overcome his recent struggles. We see recently returned 2B Josh Adamczewski will be given the night off as Guilarte moves to 2B and Di Turi will cover SS.

He's kind of in that RHP Justin Jarvis territory between Double-A/Triple-A. Dominating the Double. Not finding staying power in Triple-A. I actually thought he'd been much better this go around in Nashville. I'm hoping this doesn't pertain in any way to the debacle that ended their woeful extra innings loss in Durham when he threw that ball to 3B with nobody covering. I agree tho. BUT, hey, he can keep dominating down in Biloxi as they push for the playoffs. That's a 'Win'. Meaningful innings.

LHP Tate Kuehner will look to build on two consecutive fantastic Double-A starts to open his Shuckers career (hopefully, brief!) as he takes the bump for the third time. DH Brock Wilken will look to break his August slump as he plays in his 79th consecutive game tonight which will tie OF Troy Stokes Jr.'s record set back in 2018. Those were the days! 2B Ethan Murray will also look to kick start his sleepy season as touted RF Connor Scott (above) is given the clean-up spot.

^^ To this post's end, I'm going to simply celebrate a guy I feel I'm the only one who repeatedly touts his wares: RHP Nick Merkel. Just an absolutely unsung hero in the Shuckers bullpen. Can very readily eat 2-3 innings in a major pinch. In the month of August, as the Shuckers cling to a 2.0 G lead over Pensacola, Merkel has been an absolutely crucial piece in the Pen: 8 1/3 IP / 4 G / 5 H / 2 HB / 3 BB / 12 K / 0.179 BAA / 0.96 WHIP - Fangraphs is predicting a final FIP of 3.08...all he has done since joining the Brewers as an undrafted FA is improve each and every season and within each and ever season.

Looking through the Shuckers pre-game Game Notes for the day, not only do I shine the light on their vastly underrated bullpen - especially since Yoho's promotion - but it turns out they are tied for the best K% in all of Double-A @ 28.1%. They're just such a solid group. Seeing the solid work 'The Shookster' and Justin King have done since their trade and release, respectively, speaks to the amount of talent they've had in that Pen all season. They are also near the top of the bullpen leaderboard in other Double-A categories: 3rd in ERA with a 3.24 ERA 5th in Opponent Slugging % @ 0.327 6th in Strikeouts with 540 Just an extremely underrated group as a whole. Happy to keep celebrating their collective efforts!

Man, Wilken's August has been absolutely brutal. I really feel for him. He's uncomfortable in the box at present and even when he's making hard contact, which he is from time-to-time it is right at the defense. Just has to stay in the grind. This season just got off on the wrong foot, obviously, with the HBP and he hasn't really ever recovered any prolonged momentum.

In Durham, the Sounds will look to pull their 1-2 series deficit even at two games apiece tonight. RHP Carlos F. Rodriguez will look to continue a fantastic August (1.59 ERA / 0.171 BAA / 1.06 WHIP / 11 K/ 5 BB / 2 GS - 11 1/3 IP) against the pesky Bulls. CF Isaac Collins is on the line-up card as the everyday player continues diversifying his massive toolkit. RF Brewer Hicklen and 1B Wes Clarke will look to find their power strokes in a series where they have largely struggled through three games. C Brian Navarreto is back behind home plate with Zamora and Cargo continuing their run of every day play.

Let's add a little shine on one of the newcomers in Biloxi. OF Connor Scott, frankly, has been a revelation since becoming a regular in the Shuckers line-up. The 2018 1st Rd pick (Marlins, 13th overall) clearly is benefiting from a change of scenery from Pittsburgh's Double-A affiliate the Altoona Curve (Eastern League). Signed just one week after being released, Scott's renaissance in Biloxi has been crucial for their playoff push.

RHP Enoli Pardes begins his rehab assignment tonight as the T-Rats' opener. LF Hedbert Perez continues to work his way back to form manning the LF grass CF Eduardo Garica is back in the fold spelling Luis Lara while SS Cooper Pratt will look to get his High-A motor running - he's been in a bit of a funk at the dish. The T-Rats currently hold a 2-1 series lead over the Chiefs.

(Live feed from the DSL Brewers Uno Clubhouse Manager's Office)

After falling behind 4-0 to the DSL Pirates Gold (29-21), the DSL Cerveceros Dos are making a game of it in the top of the 6th. CF Frandy Lafond started the inning with a lead-off double (3rd of his season - 2nd this week). He immediately scored when RF Roderick Flores (6th of his season) knocked a double himself. Flores went to 3rd on a WP and scored when 2B Jonathan Rangel grounded out to 2B - a productive out, as they say. With one down, and data very limited in its arrival, the game is currently stuck at one out with the bases empty for the Brewers Uno in the top of the 6th. Let's hope the Dos can keep it rolling and extend that winning streak to 5 games - with a 'W' today they would overtake 2nd place in their division from these same Pirates. Lafond and Flores are two extremely intriguing players on the edge of the DSL Brewers discourse, as a whole, who continue to show up routinely but garner very little attention overall. Both young men have OPS's north of 0.800 as they approach 100 AB (both in the 90's entering today's tilt). This really just speaks to the wealth of solid outputs we have seen beyond the big names who receive the majority of hype and love. There is a pool of players having really solid seasons overall. Many a young man are responsible for the collective DSL Brewers record being really solid as a collective mark.

We have a scoreless pitchers duel between the DSL Cerveceros Uno and the DSL Orioles Black. 0-0 game as the two squads enter the final 1/3 of the game. Top of the 6th and, so far, the Uno have seen scoreless efforts from Dominican 17-year-old RHP Dariel Jacquez (4.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K) who continues to put together a really solid debut season and Panamanian 17-year-old RHP Lukas Gonzalez who is entering his second inning of work having pitched 1.0 IP with 1 H, 1 BB, and 2 K so far. Gonzalez picked up two more punch outs in his second inning of work - 2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 4 K. 0-0 ball game as they enter the seventh frame. Tense!

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